- Apple has been working on a blood sugar sensor for its Watch for years, Bloomberg reports.
- Adding such a health tracker would be a significant move for Apple and give it an edge in the market.
- The firm is also working on a body temperature sensor and a more rugged model.
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Apple is getting closer to adding a glucose monitor to future Watch models, Bloomberg reported Monday.
The company has been working on such a blood sugar sensor for years, with reports stretching as far back as 2017 detailing how Apple has wanted to use the watchband to monitor glucose.
Bloomberg similarly reported that the company is working on a non-invasive feature that wouldn't involve finger pricking. Instead, Apple would enable the watch to somehow analyze a wearer's blood through their skin.
The feature, however, won't be available for commercial use for several more years, according to the report. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bloomberg also reported that Apple was planning on including a body temperature sensor in this year's Watch model, which is expected to be called the Series 7, but the feature will most likely be pushed back to 2022. So will an extreme sport Apple Watch that will put the company head-to-head with the likes of Garmin and Casio.
Sources told Bloomberg that the Series 7 will have a faster processor, better wireless connectivity, and an updated screen. Apple also plans to roll out a new version of the Watch SE next year, per the report.
Read more: Apple's growth in wearables is the most impressive feat from its holiday quarter
Apple is the global market leader in the smartwatch world, eating up more than half the market share. But it still faces competition from Google's Fitbit and others. Incorporating more health tracking capabilities into its Watch would give it even more of an edge.
Apple unveiled its $400 Watch Series 6 in fall 2020 that can read the wearer's blood oxygen levels and charges faster than its predecessors. It also has a brighter screen display.